Curb-bit



(No .l lodel.)

E. A. CLARK.

CURB BIT.

No. 565,431. Patented Aug. 11, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT omen FREDERIC A. CLARK, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

CURB-BIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 565,431, dated August11, 1896.

Application filed December 23, 1895. Serial No. 573,014. [No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, FREDERIG A. CLARK, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State ofMaine, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Curb-Bitsand I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improved construction of that class ofbridle-bits consistin g of curved cheek-pieces united by a mouthpiecehaving a forward-projecting tongue or loop in the center thereof. Theupper ends of the cheek-pieces are united by a strap which passes overthe nose of the horse and the lower ends are connected with theoverdraw-check, and a pull on the check turns the mouthpiece in themouthand forces the tongue or loop up against the roof of the mouth,Where the nerve of control is said to be located. As these bits haveheretofore been constructed the tongue or loop has been of uniform sizein all bits, and as there is a considerable variation in the roof of themouth in different horses this variety of bit could not be used on allhorses because the end of the tongue would not always reach the roof ofthe mouth or exert on it the proper pressure. Again, the hard-metaltongue pressing against the roof of the mouth was liable to injure ahorse who had an obstinate and determined temper if he did not succumbwhen he felt the pressure of the bit.

The object of my invention is to apply a removable pad at the end of thetongue or loop, which can be shaped to conformto the roof of the mouthand which will give a less harsh bearing, and I accomplish this objectby connecting the cheek-pieces by a crosspiece forward of themouthpiece, having a central loop which passes up through the loop ofthe mouthpiece and holds in place a pad. The surface of the tongue orloop of the mouthpiece is covered with some suitable material to form abearing for the pad to rest on.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 represents my improved bit in place, the horses head' beingshown in dotted lines; and Fig. 2 is a central section through the bit.

0 O are the curved cheek-pieces of the bit, having at each end the rings0., The cheekpieces are connected by means of a mouthpiece having aforward-projecting loop D. The upper ends of the cheek-pieces areconnected by a nose-strap F and their lower ends are secured to thecheck-straps B, these in turn being connected to the overdraw-checl: A.These parts are all of ordinary and wellknown construction and need nofurther explanation.

According to my improvement, the forward end of the loop D is coveredwith gutta-percha or some other suitable material (indicated at I) toform a bearing for the pad E, which rests on it and projects forward ofthe loop D. The pad is held in place by means of the cross-bar G, whichconnects the cheek-pieces forward of the mouthpiece and beneath the loopD, and the cross-bar is provided with a central loop g, which projectsup through the loop D and through the covering thereof and passes overthe top of the pad.

The forward end of the pad may be of any desired size and shape to fitthe roof of the mouth, according as the arch of the mouth is high orlow, and if it is desired to change the pad it can be pulled out andanother substituted. Thus various pads may be tested on the same horseuntil one is found which fits exactly.

A bit constructed as I have described is a more humane bit than the oldform because it provides an easierbearing and by its use the curb can beexactly fitted to any horse.

The cross-bar G, in addition to holding the pad E in place, stiffens andstrengthens the bit.

I claim- The herein-described curb-bit consisting of curved cheek-piecesconnected by a mouthpiece having a forward-projecting loop D in thecenter thereof, a covering for said loop composed of gutta-percha orother suitable material, a cross-bar connecting said cheekpieces infront of said mouthpiece and having a loop g projecting up through saidloop D and a pad held in place by said loop 9.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

FREDERIO A. CLARK.

WVitnesses:

S. W. BATES, E. DUDLEY FREEMAN.

